{"id":81,"date":"2008-06-10T20:49:39","date_gmt":"2008-06-11T01:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.libertystudentnews.com\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2008-06-10T20:49:39","modified_gmt":"2008-06-11T01:49:39","slug":"development-delays-for-lu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.libertystudentnews.com\/?p=81","title":{"rendered":"Development delays for LU"},"content":{"rendered":"

The deal to develop Crossroads Colonnade, a major retail project involving Liberty University, is still on, but will be delayed until the nation\u2019s economy rebounds, officials say.<\/p>\n

LU is planning to sell 184 acres near its campus to AIG Baker, a commercial developer based in Alabama. Most of the envisioned 900,000 square feet of retail would be in Campbell County, but about 18 acres of it would be in Lynchburg.<\/p>\n

The full Crossroads plan encompasses 212 acres and includes residential construction, although no contracts have been announced for that element yet.<\/p>\n

The retail project\u2019s postponement will likely push the groundbreaking to next year. It was previously hoped construction could begin sometime this year.<\/p>\n

Last year, as part of the Crossroads plan, Lynchburg City Council agreed to rezone 3.6 acres previously designated as conservation property.<\/p>\n

In exchange, LU agreed to convert another 3.6 acres of university land to conservation status.<\/p>\n

The school has since identified the property it\u2019s willing to rezone and will bring its proposal to the planning commission today.<\/p>\n

The suggested acres are split between two properties on Carroll Avenue and the Dearing Street area, respectively.<\/p>\n

The Carroll Avenue site, located near Lynchburg City Stadium and the house where LU\u2019s annual Scaremare event is set up, would provide 1.29 acres of the required land.<\/p>\n

The Dearing Street portion, located on an island in the James River in the Rivermont Avenue area, would supply 2.33 acres.<\/p>\n

City staff proposed placing land-use restrictions on the property to ensure it would be preserved in perpetuity. LU declined to volunteer any such conditions, according to a planning commission memo, saying it has not yet determined a use for those presently vacant lots.<\/p>\n

By-right uses of conservation land in Lynchburg include agricultural endeavors and telecommunications towers.<\/p>\n

City staff has recommended the LU rezoning be approved. The planning commission meets today at 4 p.m. in City Hall, 900 Church St.<\/p>\n

Commissioners will also meet Thursday at the same time to hold a special work session on the proposed big-box ordinance, which would place new restrictions on future large-scale commercial developments.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The deal to develop Crossroads Colonnade, a major retail project involving Liberty University, is still on, but will be delayed until the nation\u2019s economy rebounds,…<\/p>\n

Continue readingDevelopment delays for LU<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4],"class_list":["post-81","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-features","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t